Ryan Reynolds joins cast of 'Pokemon' film 'Detective Pikachu'

Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Ryan Reynolds has been cast in the upcoming live-action Pokemon film, Detective Pikachu.

Reynolds has been tapped to play the titular character who acts as the leading mascot of the Pokemon brand, noted The Hollywood Reporter who cited sources that said the role will utilize motion capture.

The actor joins a cast that includes Justice Smith (The Get Down) and Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies).

Detective Pikachu, based on the popular Pokemon Nintendo video game franchise that has spawned a collectible card game and a 20-season long animated series, will revolve around the father of Smith's teenage character being kidnapped, leading him to team up with Pikachu in order to find him, Variety reported.

Newton will be portraying a journalist.

The film is being directed by Rob Letterman (Goosebumps), from a script by Nicole Perlman and Alex Hirsch. There is no set release date for the project with Universal handling distribution outside Japan and Toho handling distribution in Japan.

Reynolds will next be seen in Fox's upcoming superhero sequel Deadpool 2 which arrives in theaters on June 1.